Sad news and condolences

Winona-death of a staff member-Feb 21, 2022,pdf

February 21, 2022  

Dear Parents, Guardians and Caregivers, 

It is with deep sadness that we are sharing with you the news of the death of Mme. Elise Pare, our Grade 4/5 core French teacher at Winona. Our condolences are extended to Mme. Pare’s family and friends during this difficult time. As a sign of respect and honour for her dedication to our school community, our school flag will be lowered to half-mast. 

Social workers will be available on-site Tuesday, for students who need to access support. Parents, guardians, and caregivers can access Tips for adults supporting children and youth after distressing events at https://hwdsb.info/distressing to support your child when talking about the death of a caring adult. Supporting children during this time will greatly assist in their ability to understand and cope with their feelings of grief and loss. 

Students can also access support using HWDSB Helps (https://hwdsb.info/HWDSBHelps): Text to 905-963-0066 (Standard rates apply), use the HWDSB Helps app for iOS and Android, or the web chat. In case of emergency, call 911. 

We all share in the grief and sadness of having lost Mme. Pare, who was a valued member of our school community. 

Sincerely, 

Tim Illman, 

Principal 

 Cc: Estella Jones, Superintendent of Student Achievement